News

Dog Bite Claims Nationwide Increased 2.2 Percent; California, Florida And Pennsylvania Lead Nation In Number of Claims
National Dog Bite Prevention Week Is April 8-14
Press Release
An analysis of homeowners insurance data by the I.I.I. found that the number of dog bite claims nationwide increased to 18,522 in 2017, compared to 18,122 in 2016 – a 2.2 percent increase. The average cost per claim increased by 11.5 percent. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims was $37,051 in 2017, compared with $33,230 in 2016.
Dogs provide millions of people with companionship, happiness and health benefits. But even dogs that are normally docile may bite when they are frightened or when defending their puppies, owners or food.
To educate pet owners about how to prevent dog bites The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service (USPS) and State Farm Insurance are joining together for National Dog Bite Prevention Week (April 8 -14).
Dog bites … [Read more...]

By Andrew Caplan Posted Apr 4, 2019 at 8:01 PM Updated Apr 4, 2019
Gainesville FL Alachua County
What is unique about this latest few months is the just the incredibly dramatic and tragic nature of some of these reports,” said county spokesman Mark Sexton. A recent string of violent dog attacks in Alachua County has some people feeling a bit uneasy.
Most of the attacks were caused by dogs that escaped an owner’s property. At Thursday’s city meeting, commissioners brought up the issue due to concern of what appears to be an increase in deadly attacks. “It’s happening across our city,” Commissioner Harvey Ward said. “It’s not any one neighborhood that it’s coming from, though I will say Northwood Pines has had some very specific problems that tend to go back to the same couple of homes and that’s a concern for me.” Commissioners discussed changes that are ongoing across the street from City Hall at the Alachua County Administration building. The city has contracted the county to … [Read more...]

Police confirm the Huntingtown dog attack victim has died. Jenna Sutphin, 28, was savagely attacked by a Dogo argentino about 7:15 am this morning. She was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition with bite injuries to the back of her head and neck. Earlier today, it was reported that her family was "preparing for the worst." Sutphin and her fiance, Jason Hammer, who is a Prince George's County Correctional Center K-9 handler, breed and sell Dogo argentinos.
The attack unfolded in front of the couple's home, which overlooks Route 4. A driver traveling along Route 4 called 911 about 7:00 am after seeing an animal attacking something, reports WTOP. When the trouper arrived at the overgrown area near the highway, the dog was still actively attacking her. The trouper shot the dog causing it to flee. The driver who called in this attack and this trouper will forever live with the memories of seeing a gladiator dog destroying a woman.
The attacking dog, named Rocky, was the male … [Read more...]

Watch News Video
A dog owner in Penn Township is being criminally charged after his dog attacked a man.
The victim, Glen Klink, who has been working on a job site off Murrysville Road, required multiple stitches after being bitten by the German Shepherd – who lives across the street from the job site.
Klink said the workers are used to worrying about drivers, but they are now watching their backs for dogs.
“I had my back turned to the house, and we unloaded a pipe,” Klink said. “I was backing him up and I just went to reach around to grab a cone, and the dog just jumped right on my arm."
Despite wearing “coveralls,” three sweatshirts and multiple hoods, the bite still got through. Klink suffered severe damage to his arm, requiring a couple stitches.
Klink told Channel 11 that he is just the latest victim to be attacked by the dog.
The dog’s owner, Glenn Mussong, is now facing criminal charges after Klink was the fifth person to be bitten by the dog.
Tucker … [Read more...]

http://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/utility-worker-attacked-by-dogs
OMAHA, NEB (KMTV) - Oct 9, 2017
A utility worker attempting to read a meter at a South Omaha home walked through the gate and was bitten by two dogs.
"It’s kind of scary I didn't know there were mean dogs like that right behind me."
He was taken to the hospital with injuries to his hands and legs.
Neighbors say it's shocking.
"I haven't had any issues with the dogs, none whatsoever."
Marjorie Brennan lives just two doors down and knows the owner and his two dogs.
"The dogs have never been allowed to run free, they are always fenced in.”
“They are always on a leash when he walks them, and I have never heard before that they have attacked anybody."
The Nebraska Humane Society says the owner will not be cited since the sign is visible on the fence.
"He extended that fence when he figured out they could jump it, so that's been there for a very long time."
Brennan says walking past the … [Read more...]

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/lakeland/deputies-shoot-kill-dog-attacking-lakeland-meter-reader
LAKELAND, Fla. Feb 13, 2017 - Polk County deputies shot and killed a dog attacking a city of Lakeland meter reader on Monday morning.
At approximately 11:18 a.m., Lakeland Electric employee, Linda Dionne, 59, was at a home located at 941 Fish Hatchery Road when a dog attacked her. She hit the panic button on her radio to call for help, which alerted the Lakeland Police Department communication center.
Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and when they arrived, the dog was still mauling Dionne. The deputy was able to get the dog off her, but it started to attack the deputy. The deputy shot and killed the dog. At that time, another dog aggressively approached the deputies and a Lakeland Officer. Shots were fired at the dog and it retreated under the home.
"There could have been another way than to kill my children's dog," said Alex … [Read more...]

POSTED:FEB 13 2017 01:27PM EST
LAKELAND (FOX 13) - A Polk County man was arrested after one of his dogs mauled a Lakeland Electric meter-reader this morning, then turned on a deputy who had arrived to help, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies say Linda Dionne was working along Fish Hatchery Road when she activated the emergency button on her radio. When Lakeland Electric and Lakeland police officers could not get a hold of her, deputies responded.
The deputy arrived to find the "pit bull-type" dog attacking Dionne on the front porch of a home. He was able to get the dog off the woman, but then had to shoot the dog after it attacked him.
Deputies kill dog that attacked Lakeland Electric worker
A second dog in the yard "menacingly approached" two deputies and a Lakeland police officer, who fired at the animal, but missed. The dog ran under the house and was later captured.
Dionne, 59, was treated at the scene and then taken to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center with … [Read more...]

David Fear, 64-years old, was viciously attacked by a police officer's "personal" dogs after they escaped their owner's property. Fear died in the hospital four days after the attack.
Dec 17 2016 - Grover Beach, California
The main attacker, a Belgian malinois, first attacked his neighbor, 85-year old Betty Long. Fear intervened to save her life and suffered critical dog bite injuries, including two arteries in his arms being severed, contributing to him losing six pints of blood. Long suffered dog bite injuries and multiple broken bones from falling.
Fear died of his injuries three days later. The city of Grover Beach refused to release the officer's name for nine days. On January 4, 2017, The Tribune published an exclusive article, detailing officer Alex Geiger's previous employment and that his malinois was a trained police K-9. The dog was dual-certified in narcotics detection and patrol work -- obedience, search, apprehension and handler protection (bite work).
Geiger … [Read more...]

Click the link to see the full article and news video from our visit to Salt River Project in Tempe AZ!
http://www.12news.com/news/local/valley/srp-employees-go-through-aggressive-dog-biting-training/328938991
TEMPE, Ariz. - Each day, field workers with SRP face numerous dangers and obstacles including dogs protecting their territory. Tuesday the company held some classes to help employees learn what to do when faced with an aggressive dogs.
"Our main objective is to make sure that we can teach them what to do when getting into situations where they are attacked by one dog," said Mitzi Robinson with Bulli Ray Enterprises, "or by a pack of dogs."
The two-hour course included a Belgium Malinois biting workers wearing protective gear.
"If I had not had all of the years of reinforcement," said Roger Pedersen, a meter tech with SRP, "I might not have gotten out of their alive."
Three years ago Roger Petersen was visiting what appeared to be a vacant house to check on a … [Read more...]

A valued client asked a question on service dogs being brought into public buildings:
Question:
I’m getting our attendance list together for Bulli Ray training, and the Tax Collector’s office has posed a question about “service” dogs that seem to be increasing exponentially here. We realize there are limitations about what we can ask of their owners, but do you have any experience or advice on how to handle dogs being brought into public buildings? thanks
Answer:
Behavior is the best indication whether it’s a well-trained team or not. If a “Service Dog” is interrupting a business’ daily operation with its behavior, causing problems in a housing situation, is a danger to anyone or its conduct is NOT conduct acceptable in a Service Dog (barking, growling, stealing food from other clients, knocking people over, jumping, or many other behaviors), by law, the manager or business owner has every right to ask the person to remove the dog from the premises, “Service Dog” or … [Read more...]